Information processing device and method for controlling image data thereof

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the present invention is to provide an information processing device that realizes more suitable ease of use. To accomplish the purpose, there is provided an information processing device provided with a video input unit for acquiring image data from an optical image, a signal receiver unit for acquiring a position computation signal, a communication unit for transmitting the image data, a first memory unit for storing position information pertaining to a place to which the image data is not transmitted, and a control unit for controlling the execution of image data transmission on the basis of the position information acquired from the position calculation signal and the position information stored in the first storage unit.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an information processing device and amethod for controlling image data thereof.

BACKGROUND ART

A monitoring camera of the related art is installed fixedly in a shop orthe like to store captured videos or still images in order to preventand solve a crime. When a crime occurs, information for specifying acriminal can be obtained from the stored image. However, it is difficultto cope with a case where an individual is attacked by a burglar or thelike in a place where no security camera is installed during commutationor going to school. In this regard, a portable security camera installedin a body of an individual to monitor the surroundings of the body atall times has been proposed.

As a background art of this technical field, JP 2006-86582 A (PatentDocument 1) has been proposed. The apparatus of Patent Document 1 has asignal input unit that receives an image signal, a signal temporarystorage that temporarily stores the received image signal, an emergencydetection means that detects occurrence of an abnormality in or around ahuman body, and a signal accumulator that receives and stores the imagesignal from the signal temporary storage on the basis of the abnormalitysignal detected by the emergency detection means. In the technique ofPatent Document 1, the image signal can be stored in the signaltemporary storage or the signal accumulator by the abnormality signalsuch as a huge vibration detected by the emergency detection meanswithout being removed. In addition, information is transmitted to afixed station such as a security office and is provided for monitoringor storing purposes.

CITATION LIST Patent Document

Patent Document 1: JP 2006-86582 A

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

In the technique of Patent Document 1, even when a criminal takes awayor completely destroys the portable security camera, the image signalcan be stored in the fixed station, so that it is possible to preventevidence photographs from being removed. For example, assuming thatimages are stored in an image data server via a network, if a userstarts a camera photographing operation when going out from home, andforgets stopping the shooting when returning home, the images are storedin the home and are also transmitted to the image data server. Thismakes the image data unnecessarily transmitted and stored anddisadvantageously increases data communication traffics or a storagecapacity of the memory area of the image server. In addition, if a userforgets to start the camera photographing operation when going out, noimage is stored in the image data server. That is, when a user forgetsto start or terminate the photographing operation, image data are notstored, or unnecessary image data are stored disadvantageously.

An object of the invention is to provide an information processingdevice capable of realizing more suitable usability.

Solutions to Problems

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided aninformation processing device including: an image input unit thatacquires image data from an optical image; a signal receiver unit thatacquires a position computation signal; a communication unit thattransmits the image data; a first memory unit that stores positioninformation on a place from which no image data is transmitted; and acontrol unit that controls execution of transmission of the image dataon the basis of position information acquired from the positioncomputation signal and the position information stored in the firstmemory unit.

Effects of the Invention

According to the invention, it is possible to provide an informationprocessing device capable of realizing more suitable usability.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of animage recording device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 1B is a diagram illustrating an exemplary software configuration ofthe image recording device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of acommunication system including the image recording device according tothe first embodiment.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are a diagram illustrating an exemplary exterior of theimage recording device according to the first embodiment and a displayexample of a basic screen.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart describing an operation example of a camerafunction execution unit of the image recording device according to thefirst embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a camera functionselection screen.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the display screenin a photographing condition setting process of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary unphotographing placeregistration process of FIG. 4.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are a diagram illustrating a display example of thedisplay screen in the unphotographing place registration process of FIG.7.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary reproduction process ofFIG. 4.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are a diagram illustrating a display example of thedisplay screen in the reproduction process of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary photographing processof FIG. 4.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary photographing processaccording to a second embodiment.

FIGS. 13A and 13B are a diagram illustrating a display example of thedisplay screen of the photographing process of FIG. 12.

FIGS. 14A and 14B are a diagram illustrating an exemplary installationstate of the image recording device according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a display screenof a warning screen of FIG. 12.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary software configuration ofan image recording device according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart describing an operation example of a camerafunction execution unit of the image recording device according to thethird embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the camerafunction selection screen of FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the routephotographing process of FIG. 17.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a display screenof a route list.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary new route registrationprocess of FIG. 19.

FIGS. 22A to 22D are a diagram illustrating a display example of adisplay screen in the new route registration process of FIG. 21.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary scheduled photographingprocess of FIG. 17.

FIG. 24 illustrates an exemplary configuration in which the image inputunit and the image recording device are separately provided.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of animage recording device as an information processing device according tothis embodiment. In FIG. 1A, the image recording device 100 has a maincontrol unit 101, a system bus 102, a read-only memory (ROM) 103, arandom access memory (RAM) 104, a storage unit 110, an image processingunit 120, a sound processing unit 130, a manipulation unit 140, acommunication processing unit 150, a sensor unit 160, and an expandedinterface unit 170.

FIG. 1B is a diagram illustrating an exemplary software configuration ofthe image recording device 100 according to this embodiment andillustrates software configurations of the ROM 103, the RAM 104, and thestorage unit 110. Details will be described below.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of acommunication system including an image recording device 100 accordingto this embodiment. In FIG. 2, the communication system includes animage recording device 100, a wide-area public network 201 such as theInternet, a radio communication access point 202 of the wide-area publicnetwork, a base station 203 of a mobile telephone communication network,an image data server 211, and a mobile telephone communication server212. The image recording device 100 may be a mobile phone or smart phoneprovided with a camera function, a digital camera, or the like.Alternatively, the image recording device 100 may include animage-recordable video camera, a portable game machine, a portabledigital device, or the like.

In FIG. 1A, the main control unit 101 is a microprocessor unit thatcontrols the image recording device 100 as a whole on the basis of apredetermined program. The system bus 102 is a data communication pathfor transmitting and receiving data between the main control unit 101and each part of the image recording device 100.

The ROM 103 is a memory that stores a basic operation program such as anoperating system, or other application programs. The ROM 103 includes,for example, an electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), or arewritable ROM such as a flash ROM. A new version or a functionexpansion of the basic operation program or other application programsbecomes available by updating the program stored in the ROM 103.

The RAM 104 serves as a work area for executing the basic operationprogram or other application programs. Specifically, for example, thebasic operation program 103 a stored in the ROM 103 is deployed in theRAM 104, and the main control unit 101 executes the deployed basicoperation program, so that a basic operation execution unit 104 a isimplemented. In the following description, for simplicity purposes, itis assumed that a process of performing control of each part using themain control unit 101 by deploying and executing the basic operationprogram 103 a stored in the ROM 103 on the RAM 104 is performed as thebasic operation execution unit 104 a performs control of each part. Notethat this similarly applies to other application programs.

The ROM 103 and the RAM 104 may be integrated with the main control unit101. Alternatively, instead of the independent structure of FIG. 1A, apart of the storage area of the storage unit 110 may also be used as theROM 103. In addition, it is assumed that the RAM 104 has a temporarystorage area that temporarily stores data as necessary when variousapplication programs are executed.

The storage unit 110 stores setting values of each operation of theimage recording device 100, information on users of the image recordingdevice 100, and the like. In addition, the storage unit 110 may storestill image data or video data photographed by the image recordingdevice 100.

A part of the area of the storage unit 110 may be partly or entirelysubstituted with the functions of the ROM 103. In addition, the storageunit 110 is necessary to hold the stored information even when power isnot supplied to the image recording device 100. Therefore, for example,a flash ROM, a solid state drive (SSD), a hard disc drive (HDD) or thelike are employed.

The image processing unit 120 has a display unit 121, a video signalprocessing unit 122, a first image input unit 123, and a second imageinput unit 124. For example, the display unit 121 is a display devicesuch as a liquid crystal display panel and provides video data processedby the video signal processing unit 122 to a user of the image recordingdevice 100. The video signal processing unit 122 has a video RAM (notshown), and the display unit 121 is driven on the basis of the videodata input to the video RAM. In addition, it is assumed that the videosignal processing unit 122 performs format conversion, a superimposingprocess for a menu or other signals such as an on-screen display (OSD)signal, and the like as necessary. The first and second image inputunits 123 and 124 are camera units that convert an optical signal inputfrom a lens to an electrical signal using an electronic device such as acharge-coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor(CMOS) sensor to receive video data for a surrounding or an object. Notethat, since the data acquired from the camera unit are videos or stillimages, they will be referred to as “image data” including video data.

The sound processing unit 130 has a sound output unit 131, a soundsignal processing unit 132, and a sound input unit 133. The sound outputunit 131 is a loudspeaker that provides a sound signal processed by thesound signal processing unit 132 to a user of the image recording device100. The sound input unit 133 is a microphone to convert sound from auser or the like into sound data and inputs the sound. Note that thesound input unit 133 may be provided separately from the image recordingdevice 100 and may be connected to the image recording device 100 viawired or wireless communication.

The manipulation unit 140 is an instruction input unit used to input amanipulation instruction to the image recording device 100. According tothis embodiment, it is assumed that the manipulation unit 140 includes atouch panel 140 t arranged overlappingly with the display unit 121 and amanipulation key set 140 k in which button switches are arranged side byside. The manipulation unit 140 may also have only one of the touchpanel 140 t and the manipulation key set 140 k.

The communication processing unit 150 includes a local area network(LAN) communication unit 151, a mobile telephone network communicationunit 152, and a BlueTooth (registered trademark) communication unit 153.The LAN communication unit 151 is connected to a radio communicationaccess point 202 of the Internet 201 via radio communication to transmitand receive data. The mobile telephone network communication unit 152performs radio communication with a base station 203 of the mobiletelephone communication network to transmit and receive a telephonecommunication (call) or data. The BlueTooth communication unit 153performs radio communication with corresponding devices. Each of the LANcommunication unit 151, the mobile telephone network communication unit152, and the BlueTooth communication unit 153 has an encoder, a decoder,an antenna, and the like. In addition, they may also have an infraredcommunication unit or the like.

The sensor unit 160 is a group of sensors for detecting a state of theimage recording device 100. According to this embodiment, the sensorunit 160 has a global positioning system (GPS) receiver unit 161, anacceleration sensor 162, a gyro sensor 163, a geomagnetic sensor 164, anilluminance sensor 165, and a proximity sensor 166. Using this group ofsensors, it is possible to detect a position, movement, inclination,direction, and surrounding brightness of the image recording device 100,a proximity situation of a surrounding object, and the like. The sensorunit 160 may additionally have other sensors.

The expanded interface unit 170 is an interface group for expanding thefunction of the image recording device 100. According to thisembodiment, it is assumed that the expanded interface unit 170 has avideo/sound interface, a universal serial bus (USB) interface, a memoryinterface, and the like. The video/sound interface receives a videosignal and/or a sound signal from an external video/sound output deviceand outputs a video signal and/or a sound signal to an externalvideo/sound input device, and the like. The USB interface providesconnection of a keyboard or other USB devices. The memory interfaceprovides connection of a memory card or other memory media to transmitor receive data.

In addition, although not shown in the drawings, other configurationssuch as a digital TV broadcast receiver function, an electronic moneysettlement function may also be added.

Operations of the image recording device 100 according to thisembodiment will now be described. Here, general operations/manipulationsof a camera device, such as focusing or exposure, are well known in theart, and they will not be described. Furthermore, it is assumed that, asillustrated in FIG. 1B, operations of the image recording device 100according to this embodiment are principally controlled by a basicoperation execution unit 104 a, a camera function execution unit 104 b,and a position information acquirement execution unit 104 c configuredby deploying a basic operation program 103 a of the ROM 103, a camerafunction program 110 a stored in the storage unit 110, and a positioninformation acquirement program 110 b on the RAM 104 and executing themusing the main control unit 101. Alternatively, the image recordingdevice 100 according to this embodiment may further include hardwareblocks capable of realizing equivalent operations of the camera functionexecution unit 104 b and position information acquirement execution unit104 c described above with hardware components, so that each of thehardware blocks may control the operations of the image recording device100 instead of the camera function execution unit 104 b and the positioninformation acquirement execution unit 104 c.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate an exterior example of the image recordingdevice 100 and a display example of the basic screen 121 a according tothis embodiment. Note that, in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the exterior diagram iscreated by assuming that the image recording device 100 is aninformation terminal device such as a smart phone. FIG. 3A is a frontview illustrating the image recording device 100, and FIG. 3B is a rearview illustrating the image recording device 100. The left and rightside surfaces and top and bottom surfaces are not illustrated. Notethat, according to this embodiment, it is assumed that the first imageinput unit 123 is placed on the same side (front surface) as that of thedisplay unit 121, and the second image input unit 124 is placed on theopposite side (rear surface) of the display unit 121 as illustrated inFIGS. 3A and 3B. In the following description, the first image inputunit 123 placed on the same side as that of the display unit 121 may bereferred to as “in-camera”, and the second image input unit 124 placedon the opposite side to the display unit 121 may be referred to as“out-camera” in some cases. Note that the second image input unit 124may not be placed on the same surface as that of the display unit 121 orthe rear surface. In addition, the second image input unit 124 may beprovided separately from the image recording device 100 or may beconnected to the image recording device 100 via wired or wirelesscommunication.

In FIG. 3A, the basic screen 121 a is displayed on the display unit 121when the image recording device 100 is powered on by pressing a powerkey 140 k 1, or when a home key 140 k 2 is pressed during execution ofany application program. A group of icons 121 a 1 associated with eachapplication program executable by the image recording device 100 aredisplayed on the basic screen 121 a, so that a predetermined applicationprogram associated with the selected icon is executed when any icon isselected.

Note that selection of the icon may be performed by tapping apredetermined region on a touch panel 140 t corresponding to a positionon the display unit 121 where a desired icon is displayed, or the like.Alternatively, the selection may also be performed by manipulating amanipulation key such as a cross cursor key and a selection key (notshown).

The icon 121 a 2 displayed on the basic screen 121 a is an iconassociated with a camera function program 110 a characterizing the imagerecording device 100 according to this embodiment. The camera functionexecution unit 104 b is activated by selecting the icon 121 a 2 bytapping or the like. Operation examples of the camera functioncharacterizing the image recording device 100 according to thisembodiment will now be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.4.

Referring to FIG. 4, when the icon 121 a 2 on the basic screen 121 a ofthe image recording device 100 operating on the basis of the control ofthe basic operation execution unit 104 a described above is selected bytapping or the like, the basic operation execution unit 104 a activatesthe camera function execution unit 104 b to transfer a control authorityto the camera function execution unit 104 b. In addition, in step S101,the camera function execution unit 104 b displays the camera functionselection menu screen 121 b on the display unit 121 as illustrated inFIG. 5. The camera function selection menu screen 121 b includes aphotographing icon 121 b 1, a reproduction icon 121 b 2, anunphotographing place registration icon 121 b 3, a photographingcondition setting icon 121 b 4, and an end icon 121 b 5. Subsequently,the camera function execution unit 104 b receives a selection input forthe icon of the camera function selection menu screen 121 b from a user(S102) and executes a branching process S103 depending on the selectedicon.

In S102, if a selection input for the end icon 121 b 5 is received, thecamera function execution unit 104 b returns the control authority tothe basic operation execution unit 104 a in the branching process S103.Furthermore, the basic operation execution unit 104 a displays a basicscreen 121 a and terminates the operation of the camera functionexecution unit 104 b.

If the selection input for the photographing condition setting icon 121b 4 is received in S102, the operation branches to a photographingcondition setting process S104 in the branching process S103.

In the photographing condition setting process S104, a photographingcondition setting screen 121 c is displayed on the display unit 121 asillustrated in FIG. 6. The photographing condition setting screen 121 cincludes a photographing interval setting box 121 c 1, a checkbox 121 c2 for setting an image storage destination to the image data storagearea 110 c 3 of the main body, a checkbox 121 c 3 for setting the imagestorage destination to the image data server 211 connected to thewide-area public network 201, a checkbox 121 c 4 for setting thephotographing camera to in-camera, a checkbox 121 c 5 for setting thephotographing camera to out-camera, and a return icon 121 c 6, so that auser is allowed to set each photographing condition setting item. Thephotographing interval may change depending on position information ofthe terminal or the used time. The image storage destination may be setto any one of the image data storage area 110 c 3 of the main body, theimage data server 211, or both of them. In addition, the photographingcamera may be set to any one of the in-camera, the out-camera, or bothof them. For example, if the photographing camera is set to both thein-camera and the out-camera, it is possible to photograph front, rear,left, and right images around a user at the same time. The photographingcondition set in this manner is stored in a photographing conditionsetting storage area 110 c 1 of the storage unit 110.

If a selection input for the unphotographing place registration icon 121b 3 is received in S102, the operation branches to the unphotographingplace registration process S105 in the branching process S103. Here, the“unphotographing place” refers to a place where no image data istransmitted, or no image data is acquired or stored as described below.

If a selection input for the reproduction icon 121 b 2 is received inS102, the operation branches to the reproduction process S106 in thebranching process S103.

If a selection input for the photographing icon 121 b 1 is received inS102, the operation branches to the photographing process S107 in thebranching process S103.

The operation returns to S101 after the photographing condition settingprocess S104, the unphotographing place registration process S105, thereproduction process S106, and the photographing process S107, so thatthe camera function selection menu screen 121 b is displayed.

An exemplary unphotographing place registration process S105 will bedescribed with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 7 and an example ofthe display screen of FIGS. 8A and 8B.

Referring to FIG. 7, in the unphotographing place registration processS105 of FIG. 4, first, the unphotographing place data is read from theunphotographing place storage area 110 c 2 of the storage unit 110(S201). Next, the unphotographing place registration screen 121 d isdisplayed (S202) as illustrated in FIG. 8A to receive a selection inputfor the icons of the unphotographing place registration screen 121 dfrom a user (S203).

The unphotographing place registration screen 121 d of FIG. 8A includesa list 121 d 1 of registered unphotographing places, a new registrationicon 121 d 2, and a return icon 121 d 3. According to this embodiment,two places 121 d 1-1 and 121 d 1-2 are displayed as a list 121 d 1 ofthe unphotographing places. A branching process is performed on thebasis of the icon received as the selection input in S203.

If a selection input for the return icon 121 d 3 is received in S203,the unphotographing place registration process S105 is terminated, andthe operation returns to S101 of the flowchart of FIG. 4, so that thecamera function selection menu screen 121 b is displayed.

If a selection input for the new registration icon 121 d 2 is receivedin S203, the operation branches to the new registration process S210 inS204, so that a new unphotographing place is registered and stored inthe unphotographing place storage area 110 c 2 of the storage unit 110.Then, returning to S202, the unphotographing place registration screen121 d is displayed.

In the new registration process S205, a new registration screen 121 f isdisplayed on the display unit 121 as illustrated in FIG. 8B. The newregistration screen 121 f includes a registration icon 121 f 1, a returnicon 121 f 2, a search box 121 f 3, a search icon 121 f 4, marks 121 f 5and 121 f 6 representing positions of the unphotographing placesregistered in advance, and an icon 121 f 7 representing a position ofthe unphotographing place newly registered in addition to a map aroundthe registered place. Information on the place newly registered as anunphotographing place is input to the search box 121 f 3, and search isperformed by tapping the search icon 121 f 4, so that the icon 121 f 7is displayed in the position corresponding to the searched place alongwith a map around the searched place. Alternatively, the position of theicon 121 f 7 is shifted by moving a position of the displayed map whiletouching a finger on the icon 121 f 7 and releasing the finger in adesired registration position. The position on the map where the icon121 f 7 is displayed is newly registered as a position of theunphotographing place by tapping the registration icon 121 f 1.

An exemplary reproduction process S106 of FIG. 4 will be described withreference to the flowchart of FIG. 9 and an example of the displayscreen of FIGS. 10A and 10B.

Referring to FIG. 9, in the reproduction process S106 of FIG. 4, first,a list of the photographed image data is acquired from the image datastorage area 110 c 3 of the storage unit 110 or the image data server211 connected to the wide-area public network 201 (S301). Then, aphotographed image list screen 121 g is displayed as illustrated in FIG.10A (S302). The photographed image list screen 121 g includes aphotographed image list 121 g 1 and a return icon 121 g 2. Here, thephotographed image list is displayed on a daily basis.

A selection input for the icon of the photographed image list screen 121h is received from a user (S303), and a branching process is performeddepending on the received selection input (S304).

If a selection input for the return icon 121 g 2 is received in S303,the reproduction process S106 is terminated, and the operation returnsto S101 of the flowchart of FIG. 4, so that the camera functionselection menu screen 121 b is displayed.

If a selection input for the photographed image list 121 g 1 is receivedin S303, the image data corresponding to the selected list are read(S305), and the reproduction screen 121 h is displayed as illustrated inFIG. 10B (S306). The reproduction screen 121 h includes an image displayarea 121 h 1 for displaying the read image data, a photographeddate/time display area 121 h 2 for displaying a date/time at which theimage data is acquired, a map display area 121 h 3 around a positionwhere the image data is acquired, a photographing position mark 121 h 4representing a position where the image data is acquired, a stop icon121 h 5, a reproduction icon 121 h 6, and a return icon 121 h 7. Theimage data read in S305 at least includes a date/time at which the imagedata is acquired and data on the position where the image data isacquired as additional information. The photographed date/time displayarea 121 h 2, the map display area 121 h 3, and the photographingposition mark 121 h 4 of the reproduction screen 121 h are displayed onthe basis of this additional information.

Then, a selection input for the icon of the reproduction screen 121 h isreceived (S307), and a branching process is performed depending on thereceived selection input (S308).

If the selection input for the return icon 121 h 7 is received in S308,the operation returns to S302, so that the photographed image listscreen 121 h is displayed.

If a selection input for the stop icon 121 h 5 is received in S308, areproduction flag is set to OFF (S309), and the operation advances tothe branching process S311.

If a selection input for the reproduction icon 121 b 2 is received inS308, the reproduction flag is set to ON (S310), and the operationadvances to the branching process S311.

If there is no selection input in S308, the operation advances to thebranching process S311.

In S311, the branching process is performed depending on thereproduction flag. If the reproduction flag is set to OFF, the operationreturns to S307, so that a selection input for the icon of thereproduction screen 121 h is received. If the reproduction flag is setto ON, the operation returns to S305, and the next image data is read.

Next, the photographing process S107 of FIG. 4 will be described withreference to an exemplary flowchart of FIG. 11. Referring to FIG. 11, atermination input for the photographing process is received (S401). Thetermination input is received, for example, by displaying an end icon onthe display unit 121 and allowing a user to tap the displayed icon, orthe like.

Then, the branching process is performed depending on whether or notthere is a termination input. If the termination input is received inS401 (Yes), the photographing process S107 is terminated, and theoperation returns to S101 of the flowchart of FIG. 4, so that the camerafunction selection menu screen 121 b is displayed.

If the termination input is not received in S401 (No), the positioninformation acquirement execution unit 104 c acquires positioninformation on the basis of a position computation signal received bythe GPS receiver unit 161 (S403).

Then, a branching process is performed depending on whether or not acurrent position of the image recording device 100 acquired in S403 iswithin a predetermined distance from the unphotographing place (forexample, within 50 m) on the basis of the information on theunphotographing place registered in S105 (S404). If the current positionis within a predetermined distance from the unphotographing place (Yes),the operation returns to S401. If the current position is out of apredetermined distance from the unphotographing place (No), a branchingprocess is performed depending on whether or not a timer is activated(S405). If the timer is activated (Yes), the operation advances to abranching process S407. If the timer is not activated (No), the timer isactivated (S406), and the operation returns to S401.

In S407, a branching process is performed depending on whether or notthe timer value is equal to or longer than a predetermined period oftime on the basis of the photographing interval stored in thephotographing condition setting storage area 110 c 1 of the storage unit110. If the timer value is equal to or shorter than the predeterminedperiod of time (No), the operation returns to S401. If the timer valueexceeds the predetermined period of time (Yes), the timer is reset andreactivated (S408).

Then, image data is acquired from the selected camera depending on thecamera selection in the photographing condition setting stored in thephotographing condition setting storage area 110 c 1 of the storage unit110 (S409), and a branching process is performed depending on the imagedata storage destination setting set in the photographing condition(S410).

In S410, a branching process is performed depending on whether or notthe image data server 211 connected to the wide-area public network 201is selected as the image data storage destination. If the image dataserver is not selected as the storage destination (No), the operationadvances to S414. If the image data server is selected as the storagedestination (Yes), a branching process is performed depending on aconnection situation to the wide-area public network (S411). If theconnection to the wide-area public network is not established (No), theoperation advances to S414. If the connection to the wide-area publicnetwork is established (Yes), the position information acquired in S403,the photographing time information, or the like are transmitted anduploaded to the image data server 211 by adding them to the image dataacquired in S409 (S412).

In S413, a branching process is performed depending on whether or notthe image data storage area 110 c 3 of the storage unit 110 is selectedas the image data storage destination. If the image data storage area110 c 3 is not selected as the storage destination (No), the operationreturns to S401. If the image data storage area 110 c 3 is selected asthe storage destination (Yes), the operation advances to S414.

In S414, the position information acquired in S403, the photographingtime information, and the like are added to the image data acquired inS409, and are stored in the storage area 110 c 3. Then, the operationreturns to S401.

By virtue of the camera function of the image recording device 100described above, when a user gets out of the place registered as theunphotographing place such as a home by a predetermined distance, thephotographed image data and information on the photographing place canbe stored in the image data server or the image data storage area 110 c3. In addition, since the image data and the information on thephotographed place or the like are not stored when a user stays within apredetermined distance from the unphotographing place such as a home, itis possible to prevent the image data from being unnecessarilytransmitted to the image data server and thus prevent an increase of thecommunication traffics or an increase of the capacity of the image datastorage area 110 c 3 even when a user forgets to terminate thephotographing.

Note that, when a network connection is not established in the settingfor storing the image data in the image data server, the photographedimage data is stored in the image data storage area 110 c 3.Alternatively, the image stored in the image data storage area 110 c 3may be uploaded to the image data server during the photographingprocess or when a network connection is established after thephotographing process.

In the aforementioned example, storing the image in the image dataserver or the image data storage area stops when a user moves to apredetermined distance range from the unphotographing place, forexample, when a user goes back to the home from a visiting destination.Alternatively, storing the image is continuously performed for apredetermined period of time when a user moves out of a predetermineddistance range from the unphotographing place. As a result, even whenthere is an ambush or a thief in a home, it is possible to store animage of the criminal.

In the aforementioned description, the position information acquirementexecution unit 104 c acquires the position information on the basis ofthe position computation signal received by the GPS receiver unit 161.Alternatively, without limiting thereto, the position information may beacquired by using information on a service set identifier (SSID) of theradio communication access point 202 provided in a home or schoolacquired by the LAN communication unit 151 as the position computationsignal. In addition, whether or not a user is placed in a predetermineddistance range from the unphotographing place may be determineddepending on whether or not the SSID of the radio communication accesspoint 202 installed in a home or a school can be detected.

The photographing is terminated in response to the termination input ofS401. Alternatively, the photographing may be terminated when a usermoves to a predetermined distance range from the unphotographing place.

Any one, any combination, or all of the photographing, storing the imagedata in the main body, transmission of the image data, and storing theimage data in the image data server may be controlled depending on theunphotographing place.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the informationprocessing device includes an image input unit that acquires image datafrom an optical image, a signal receiver unit that acquires a positioncomputation signal, a communication unit that transmits the image data,a first memory unit that stores position information regarding a placewhere no image data is transmitted, and a control unit that controlsexecution of transmission of the image data on the basis of the positioninformation acquired from the position computation signal and theposition information stored in the first memory unit.

In addition, a method for controlling image data of an informationprocessing device that acquires image data and transmits the acquiredimage data using a communication unit includes acquiring positioninformation of the information processing device, and controllingexecution of transmission of the image data on the basis of the acquiredposition information and position information stored in advanceregarding a place where no image data is transmitted.

As a result, it is possible to provide an information processing devicecapable of realizing more suitable usability.

Second Embodiment

This embodiment is to prevent a monitoring image around a user's bodyfrom being not photographed depending on setting of a camera used in thephotographing process S107 of FIG. 4, an installation state of the imagerecording device 100, or the like.

A photographing process S107 according to this embodiment will bedescribed with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 12. Referring to FIG.12, in the photographing process S107 of FIG. 4, first, image data areacquired from the selected camera depending on the camera selection inthe photographing condition setting stored in the photographingcondition setting storage area 110 c 1 of the storage unit 110 (S501).In addition, the position information acquirement execution unit 104 cacquires position information on the basis of the signal received by theGPS receiver unit 161 (S502). Then, the photographing screen 121 i isdisplayed on the basis of the acquired image data and the positioninformation as illustrated in FIGS. 13A and 13B (S503). Thephotographing screen 121 i has an image display area 121 i 1 fordisplaying the image data acquired from the selected camera, a mapdisplay area 121 i 2 for displaying a position of the image recordingdevice 100 on the basis of the position information acquired by theposition information acquirement execution unit 104 c, a photographingposition mark 121 i 3, a return icon 121 i 4, a stop icon 121 i 5, and arecord icon 121 i 6. Here, if any one of the in-camera and theout-camera is selected in the camera selection of the photographingcondition setting, the image acquired from any one of the cameras set asillustrated in FIG. 13A is displayed on the image display area 121 i 1.In addition, if both the in-camera and the out-camera are selected, theimages acquired from both the cameras as illustrated in FIG. 13B aredisplayed on the image display areas 121 i 1-1 and 121 i 1-2.

Then, a maximum luminance level of the acquired image data is checked,and a branching process is performed (S504). For example, if a user putsthe image recording device 100 into his pocket while setting theout-camera as illustrated in FIG. 14A, the out-camera is hidden, so thatthe luminance level of the acquired image becomes very low. In thisregard, if the maximum luminance level of the acquired image is equal toor lower than a predetermined threshold value (Yes), a warning sound isgenerated, and a warning screen 121 j is displayed in order to prompt auser to check the setting of the camera used in the photographing, theinstallation state of the image recording device 100, and the like(S522). FIG. 15 illustrates an exemplary configuration of the warningscreen 121 j. The warning screen 121 j has a checkbox 121 j 1 forsetting the camera used in the photographing as the in-camera, acheckbox 121 j 2 for setting the camera used in the photographing as theout-camera, an end icon 121 j 3, and a check icon 121 j 4.

For example, if the warning screen 121 j is displayed while theout-camera is hidden as illustrated in FIG. 14A, the checkbox 121 j 1for setting the camera used in the photographing as the in-camera isselected. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 14B, an installationstate by which the out-camera can be used in the photographing is set.

Then, a selection input for an icon included in the warning screen 121 jis received (S523), and the branching process is performed depending onthe received selection input (S524).

If the check icon 121 j 4 is selected and received in the process ofreceiving the selection input S523, the operation returns to S501, andthe image data is acquired from the selected camera.

If the end icon 121 j 3 is selected and received in the process S523 ofreceiving the selection input, the photographing process S107 isterminated, and the operation returns to S101 as illustrated in theflowchart of FIG. 4, so that the camera function selection menu screen121 b is displayed.

If the maximum luminance level of the image acquired in S501 is equal toor higher than a predetermined threshold value (No) in the branchingprocess of S504, a selection input for an icon included in thephotographing screen 121 i is received (S505), and a branching processis performed depending on the received selection input (S506).

If a selection input for the return icon 121 i 4 is received in S505,the photographing process S107 is terminated, and the operation returnsto S101 illustrated in the flowchart of FIG. 4, so that the camerafunction selection menu screen 121 b is displayed.

If a selection input for the record icon 121 i 6 is received in S505,the record flag is set to “ON”, and the operation advances to thebranching process S510.

If a selection input for the stop icon 121 i 5 is received in S505, therecord flag is set to “OFF”, and the timer is reset (S509). Then, theoperation advances to the branching process S510.

If there is no selection input in S505, the operation advances to thebranching process S510.

In S510, a branching process is performed depending on the recordingflag. If the recording flag is set to “OFF”, the operation returns toS501, so that the image data is acquired from the selected camera. Ifthe recording flag is set to “ON”, a branching process is performeddepending on whether or not the timer is activated (S511). If the timeris activated (Yes), the operation advances to the branching processS513. If the timer is not activated (No), the timer is activated (S512),and the operation returns to S501.

In S513, a branching process is performed depending on whether or notthe timer value is equal to or longer than a predetermined period oftime on the basis of the photographing interval setting stored in thephotographing condition setting storage area 110 c 1 of the storage unit110. If the timer value is equal to or shorter than the predeterminedperiod of time (No), the operation returns to S501. If the timer valueexceeds the predetermined period of time (Yes), the timer is reset andreactivated (S514).

Then, a branching process is performed depending on whether or not thecurrent position of the image recording device 100 acquired in S502 iswithin a predetermined distance range from the unphotographing place onthe basis of the information on the registered unphotographing place(S515). If the current position is within a predetermined distance rangefrom the unphotographing place (Yes), the operation returns to S501. Ifthe current position is out of the predetermined distance range from theunphotographing place (No), a branching process is performed dependingon the setting of the storage destination of the image data set as thephotographing condition (S516).

In S516, a branching process is performed depending on whether or notthe image data server 211 connected to the wide-area public network 201is selected as the storage destination of the image data. If the imagedata server is not selected as the storage destination (No), theoperation advances to S519. If the image data server is selected as thestorage destination (Yes), a branching process is performed depending ona connection situation to the wide-area public network (S517). If theconnection to the wide-area public network is not established (No), theoperation advances to S520. If the connection to the wide-area publicnetwork is established (Yes), the position information acquired in S502,the information on the photographing timing, and the like are added tothe image data acquired in S501 and are uploaded to the image dataserver 211 (S518).

In S519, a branching process is performed depending on whether or notthe image data storage area 110 c 3 of the storage unit 110 is selectedas the image data storage destination. If the image data storage area110 c 3 is not selected as the storage destination (No), the operationreturns to S501. If the image data storage area 110 c 3 is selected asthe storage destination (Yes), the operation advances to S520.

In S520, the position information acquired in S502, the information thephotographing timing, or the like are added to the image data acquiredin S501, and are stored in the image data storage area 110 c 3. Then,the operation returns to S501.

In this embodiment, if the maximum luminance level of the acquired imageis equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold value, in S521, awarning sound is generated, and warning screen 121 j is displayed inorder to prompt a user to check the setting of the camera used in thephotographing, the installation state of the image recording device 100,and the like. Alternatively, selection of the camera may also beautomatically switched.

If the second image input unit 124 is provided separately from the imagerecording device 100, and a camera connected to the image recordingdevice 100 via wired or wireless communication is employed, theconnection of the camera may be checked when the photographed image isacquired in S501. Then, if the camera is not connected, the warningsound may be generated, and the warning screen may be displayed.

Third Embodiment

This embodiment is to cope with a case where a user performsphotographing, for example, for a route from a home to a school. In thiscase, a section where the user uses a train or the like in the middle ofthe route is set as the unphotographing place.

FIG. 16 is a software configuration diagram illustrating the imagerecording device 100 according this embodiment. Like reference numeralsdenote like elements as in FIG. 1B, and they will not be describedrepeatedly.

Referring to FIG. 16, a route search program 110 d and a schedulemanagement program 110 e stored in the storage unit 110 are deployed onthe RAM 104 and are executed by the main control unit 101, so as toprovide a route search execution unit 104 d and a schedule managementexecution unit 104 e. In addition, a route information storage area 110c 4 for storing the route information is provided in the storage unit110. The schedule management execution unit 104 e generates an interruptdepending on a schedule interrupt setting described below, or acondition such as a setting time and a day of week.

In the following description, operations of the camera functioncharacterizing the image recording device 100 according to thisembodiment will be described with reference a flowchart of FIG. 17 and ascreen display example of FIG. 18. In FIGS. 17 and 18, like referencenumerals denote like elements as in FIGS. 4 and 5, and they will not bedescribed repeatedly.

Referring to FIG. 17, as an icon 121 a 2 on the basic screen 121 a ofthe image recording device 100 that operates in response to a control ofthe basic operation execution unit 104 a described above is selected bytapping or the like, the basic operation execution unit 104 a activatesthe camera function execution unit 104 b, and transfers a controlauthority to the camera function execution unit 104 b. In addition, instep S109, the camera function execution unit 104 b performs a branchingprocess by checking whether or not an interrupt occurs by the schedulemanagement execution unit 104 e. If a schedule interrupt occurs (Yes),the scheduled photographing process is executed (S110). If no scheduleinterrupt occurs (No), the camera function selection screen 12 b isdisplayed on the display unit 121 as illustrated in FIG. 18 (S101). Thecamera function selection screen 121 b includes a photographing icon 121b 1, a route photographing icon 121 b 6, a reproduction icon 121 b 2, anunphotographing place registration icon 121 b 3, a photographingcondition setting icon 121 b 4, and an end icon 121 b 5.

The camera function execution unit 104 b receives a selection input foran icon included in the camera function selection menu screen 121 b froma user (S102) and executes the branching process S103 depending on theselected icon.

If a selection input for the end icon 121 b 5 is received in S102, thecamera function execution unit 104 b transfers a control authority tothe basic operation execution unit 104 a in the branching process S103.In addition, the basic operation execution unit 104 a displays the basicscreen 121 a and terminates the operation of the camera functionexecution unit 104 b.

If a selection input for the photographing condition setting icon 121 b4 is received in S102, the operation branches to the photographingcondition setting process S104 in the branching process S103.

If a selection input for the unphotographing place registration icon 121b 3 is received in S102, the operation branches to the unphotographingplace registration process S105 in the branching process S103.

If a selection input for the reproduction icon 121 b 2 is received inS102, the operation branches to the reproduction process S106 in thebranching process S103.

If a selection input for the photographing icon 121 b 1 is received inS102, the operation branches to the photographing process S107 in thebranching process S103.

If a selection input for the route photographing icon 121 b 6 isreceived in S102, the operation branches to the route photographingprocess S108 in the branching process S103.

The operation returns to S109 after executing the photographingcondition setting process S104, the unphotographing place registrationprocess S105, the reproduction process S106, the photographing processS107, the route photographing process S108, and the scheduledphotographing process S110.

The route photographing process S108 will be described with reference toan exemplary flowchart of FIG. 19. Referring to FIG. 19, first, theroute information is read from the route information storage area 110 c4 of the storage unit 110 (S601). Then, a route list screen 121 k isdisplayed on the display unit 121 as illustrated in FIG. 20 (S602). Theroute list screen 121 k includes a registered route list 121 k 1, adelete icon 121 k 2, a new route icon 121 k 3, a return icon 121 k 4,and a start icon 121 k 5.

Then, the camera function execution unit 104 b receives a selectioninput for an icon included in the route list screen 121 k from a user(S603), and executes the branching process S604 depending on theselected icon.

If a selection input for the return icon 121 k 4 is received in S603,the route photographing process S108 is terminated as a result of thebranching process S604. Then, the operation returns to S101 of FIG. 17,and the camera function selection menu screen 121 b is displayed.

If a selection input for the delete icon 121 k 2 is received in S603, aregistration of the route selected from the route list 121 k 1 isdeleted from the route information storage area 110 c 4 (S605). Then,the operation returns to S602, and the route list screen 121 k isdisplayed.

A route of the route list 121 k 1 may be selected, for example, bytapping a predetermined region on the touch panel 140 t corresponding toa position on the display unit 121 where the route to be selected isdisplayed. Alternatively, the selection may be performed by manipulatinga manipulation key such as a cross cursor key and a selection key (notshown). In FIG. 20, a “GO-TO-SCHOOL” route 121 k-1 is selected from theroute list 121 k 1 and is distinguished, for example, by changing acolor of the displayed route.

If a selection input for the new route icon 121 k 3 is received in S603,the operation branches to the new route registration process S606described below in S604, so that a new route is registered and is storedin the route information storage area 110 c 4 of the storage unit 110.Then, the operation returns to S602, and the route list screen 121 k isdisplayed.

If a selection input for the start icon 121 k 5 is received in S603, anunphotographing section is set in a route selected from the route list121 k 1 on the basis of the route information read in S601 and is storedin the route information storage area 110 c 4 (S607). Then, therecording flag is set to “ON” (S608), and the operation advances to thephotographing process S609. Here, the photographing process S609 issimilar to the photographing process S107 described in conjunction withthe flowchart of FIG. 12, and it will not be described repeatedly. Here,in S515, the branching process is performed depending on whether or notthe position acquired in S502 is within a predetermined distance rangefrom the unphotographing section set in S607, and within a predetermineddistance range from the unphotographing place stored in theunphotographing place storage area 110 c 2 of the storage unit 110.

The new route registration process S606 will be described with referenceto an exemplary flowchart of FIG. 21. Referring to FIG. 21, in the newroute registration process S606, first, a route search screen 121L forinputting a departure and a destination of the route is displayed asillustrated in FIG. 22A (S701). The route search screen 121L includes,for example, a departure input box 121L1, a destination input box 121L2,a return icon 121L3, and a search icon 121L4.

Then, inputs for the departure input box 121L1 and the destination inputbox 121L2 included in the route search screen 121L and a selection inputfor an icon are received from a user (S702). A branching process isperformed depending on the received selection input (S703).

If a selection input for the return icon 121L3 is received in S702, thenew route registration process S606 is terminated, and the operationreturns to S602 illustrated in the flowchart of FIG. 19, so that theroute list screen 121 k is displayed.

If a selection input for the search icon 121L4 is received in S702, aroute search is performed by the route search execution unit 104 d onthe basis of the information on the departure input to the departureinput box 121L1 and the information on the destination input to thedestination input box 121L2 (S704).

Then, the route selection screen 121M is displayed as illustrated inFIG. 22B (S705). The route selection screen 121M includes, for example,a candidate route list 121M1, a return icon 121M2, and a determinationicon 121M3. A candidate selection icon for selecting one of routecandidates obtained through the search of S704, route travel means suchas walk or train, and the like are displayed in the candidate route list121M1. In this example, as an icon for selecting one of the routecandidates, icons 121M1-1 and 121M1-2 are displayed, and the icon of theselected route is displayed by changing color. The route selection onthe candidate route list 121M1 may be performed, for example, by tappinga predetermined region on the touch panel 140 t corresponding to aposition on the display unit 121 where the candidate selection icon isdisplayed.

Then, the camera function execution unit 104 b receives a selectioninput for an icon included in the route selection screen 121M from auser (S706) and performs a branching process S707 depending on theselected icon.

If a selection input for the return icon 121M2 is received in S706, theoperation returns to S701, and the route selection screen 121L isdisplayed.

If a selection input for the determination icon 121M3 is received inS706, an unphotographing section setting screen 121N for selecting asection whose photographing image obtained from the camera is not storedfor the route corresponding to the selected candidate selection icon isdisplayed as illustrated in FIG. 22C (S708).

The unphotographing section setting screen 121N includes, for example, aroute list 121N1 for each travel means, a return icon 121N2, and adetermination icon 121N3. Route sections for each travel means, and acheckbox for setting the unphotographing section are displayed in theroute list 121N1. In this example, checkboxes 121N1-1, 121N1-2, and121N1-3 are displayed as the checkbox for selecting the unphotographingsection, such that a checkbox for the selected route is distinguished bychanging color. Here, for example, the checkbox 121N1-2 is selected, andthe train section is selected as the unphotographing section.

Note that it is assumed that the image photographed by the camera isstored even when a user travels out of the route obtained from the routesearch in the middle of a section not selected as the unphotographingsection.

Then, the camera function execution unit 104 b receives a selection ofthe checkbox on the route list 121N1 and a selection input for an iconincluded in the unphotographing section setting screen 121N from a user(S709), and executes the branching process S710 depending on theselected icon.

If a selection input for the return icon 121N2 is received in S709, theoperation returns to S705, and the route selection screen 121M isdisplayed.

If a selection input for the determination icon 121N3 is received inS709, the route registration screen 121O is displayed as illustrated inFIG. 22D (S711). The route registration screen 121O includes, forexample, a registration name input box 121O1, a schedule ON/OFF settingcheckbox 121O2, a time setting box 121O3, a day-of-week setting checkbox121O4, a return icon 121O5, and a registration icon 121O6. A selectioninput for a day of the week for executing the route photographing may beperformed, for example, by tapping a predetermined region on the touchpanel 140 t corresponding to a position on the display unit 121 wherethe day-of-week setting checkbox 121O4 is displayed. Here, the checkboxof the selected day of week is displayed by changing color.

Then, the camera function execution unit 104 b receives an input for theregistration name on the registration name input box 121O1 of the routeregistration screen 121O, an input for the time on the schedule ON/OFFsetting checkbox 121O2 and the time setting box 121O3, and a selectioninput for an icon from a user (S712), and executes the branching processS713 depending on the selected icon.

If a selection input for the return icon 121O5 is received in S712, theoperation returns to S708, and the unphotographing section settingscreen 121N is displayed.

If a selection input for the registration icon 121O6 is received inS712, information on the route selected from the route selection screen121M, information on the unphotographing section selected from theunphotographing section setting screen 121N, information on the schedulefor the route photographing, and the like are registered using theregistration name input to the registration name input box 121O1 of theroute registration screen 121O, and are stored in the route informationstorage area 110 c 4 of the storage unit 110 (S714).

Then, a branching process is performed on the basis of the scheduleON/OFF setting of the schedule ON/OFF setting checkbox 121O2. If theschedule setting is set to “OFF”, the new route registration processS606 is terminated, and the operation returns to S602 illustrated in theflowchart of FIG. 19, so that the route list screen 121 k is displayed.If the schedule setting is set to “ON”, the schedule managementexecution unit 104 e is set such that an interrupt occurs at thedate/time or the day of week input on the route registration screen 121O(S716), and the new route registration process S606 is terminated.

The scheduled photographing process S110 will be described withreference to an exemplary flowchart of FIG. 23. Referring to FIG. 23, inthe scheduled photographing process S110, first, information on theroutes registered in the schedule including the timing at which theschedule interrupt occurs is read from the route information storagearea 110 c 4 of the storage unit 110 (S801). A section registered as theunphotographing section is set as the unphotographing place on the basisof the read route information (S802). Then, the recording flag is set to“ON” (S803), and the operation advances to the photographing processS804. Here, the photographing process S804 is similar to thephotographing process S107 described in conjunction with the flowchartof FIG. 12, and it will not be described repeatedly. Here, in S515 ofFIG. 12, the branching process is performed depending on whether or notthe position acquired in S502 is within a predetermined distance rangefrom the unphotographing section set in S802, and within a predetermineddistance range from the unphotographing place stored in theunphotographing place storage area 110 c 2.

In the aforementioned example, a route from the departure to thedestination is searched, and the unphotographing section is set for eachtravel means in the route, so that it is possible to easily register asection where a user uses a transportation means such as a train as theunphotographing section. In addition, the setting can be made such thatthe photographed image data and information on the photographed placeare not stored for a relatively safe section in the middle of the route.Therefore, it is possible to save communication traffics transmitted tothe image data server or a capacity of the image data storage area.

By setting the schedule of the photographing process, the photographingautomatically starts. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a user fromfailing to store image data by forgetting to start the photographingwhen going to school or the like.

In the aforementioned embodiment, a user sets the unphotographingsection in the route. Alternatively, data regarding safe sections suchas public transportation means registered in advance may be stored inthe storage unit as a factory setting, or may be acquired via a networkto set them as the unphotographing sections.

A risk level may change depending on time even in the same place or thesame route. In order to cope with such a problem, the unphotographingplace or the route setting may change depending on time.

Data regarding safe places, sections, and time zones may be stored inthe storage unit in advance as a factory setting or may be acquired viaa network, so that a prompting function for prompting a user to startphotographing in unsafe places, sections, and time zones may beprovided.

In the aforementioned embodiment, a user sets the schedule of thephotographing process. Alternatively, on the basis of informationregarding the day of the week and photographing timings in the list ofthe photographed image data stored in the image data storage area 110 c3 of the image data server or the storage unit 110, days of the week tobe photographed and a photographing start timing may be automaticallyset as a schedule in a case where it is recognized that the image datastarts to be acquired a predetermined number of times or more frequentlyat a regular basis for a predetermined period of time such as thirtyminutes at nearly the same timing on nearly the same day of the week.The photographing start timing is set to, for example, the earliesttiming having a predetermined time interval.

A case where the second image input unit 124 is provided separately fromthe image recording device 100 will be described with reference to FIG.24. FIG. 24 illustrates an example in which the camera 300 is providedseparately from the image recording device 100, and is connected to theimage input interface of the image recording device 100 via wiredcommunication. Naturally, they may also be connected to each other viawireless communication. In FIG. 24, for example, an infrared LED 301 isprovided, and the camera 300 has an infrared camera function, so thatimage data can be acquired during the night time by performing theinfrared photographing using the camera 300 by irradiating infrared raysfrom the infrared LED 301.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the informationprocessing device includes the image input unit that acquires image datafrom an optical image, a signal receiver unit that acquires a positioncomputation signal, a communication unit that transmits the image data,a first memory unit that stores position information on places where theimage data is not transmitted, a second memory unit that stores routesfor each travel means between two points and sections in which no imagedata is transmitted in the routes for each travel means, and a controlunit that controls transmission of the image data on the basis of theposition information acquired from the position computation signal, theposition information stored in the first memory unit, and the sectionsstored in the second memory unit.

The information processing device has a schedule memory unit that storesa date/time for obtaining the image data from the image input unit, anda schedule management unit that generates an interrupt at the date/timestored in the schedule memory unit. The control unit reads sections inwhich no image data is transmitted in the routes for each travel meansstored in the second memory unit in the event of an interrupt, andcontrols execution of transmission of the image data on the basis of theposition information acquired from the position computation signal, theposition information stored in the first memory unit, and the sectionsstored in the second memory unit.

The control unit controls execution of transmission of the image data onthe basis of the interrupt occurrence timing, the position informationacquired from the position computation signal, and the positioninformation stored in the first memory unit.

Functions of the invention described above may be realized partly orentirely as hardware by designing an integrated circuit or the like.Alternatively, functions of the invention may also be realized assoftware by allowing a microprocessor unit or the like to analyze andexecute a program for implementing each of the functions. Alternatively,the functions of the invention may also be realized as both hardware andsoftware.

The aforementioned embodiments have been described by assuming thatfunctions of the invention are realized by executing three programs,including the camera function program 110 a, the route search program110 d, and the schedule management program 110 e. Alternatively, thefunctions of the invention may be realized by executing only one programhaving the same functions as those of each of the three programs. Eachof the programs may be stored in the ROM 103 of the image recordingdevice 100, the storage unit 110, or the like in advance as a factorysetting. Alternatively, the programs may be acquired from theapplication server 211 or the like on the wide-area public network 201via the LAN communication unit 151 or the mobile telephone networkcommunication unit 152 after delivered from the factory. In addition,the programs may be stored in a memory card or the like and may beacquired via the expanded interface unit 170.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

100 image recording device

101 main control unit

102 system bus

103 ROM

104 RAM

104 a basic operation execution unit

104 b camera function execution unit

104 c position information acquirement execution unit

104 d route search execution unit

104 e schedule management execution unit

110 storage unit

120 image processing unit

121 display unit

122 video signal processing unit

123 first image input unit

124 second image input unit

130 sound processing unit

131 sound output unit

132 sound signal processing unit

133 sound input unit

140 manipulation unit

150 communication processing unit

160 sensor unit

170 expanded interface unit

1. An information processing device comprising: a device configured toobtain a current position information of the information processingdevice; a transceiver configured to transmit the current positioninformation; a memory configured to store information regarding apredetermined area where no position information is transmitted; and acontroller, wherein, if the controller recognizes, based on the currentposition information, that the information processing device is in thepredetermined area, the controller is configured to control thetransceiver not to transmit the current position information.
 2. Theinformation processing device according to claim 1, wherein the memoryis configured to store information regarding a place where no positioninformation is transmitted as the information regarding thepredetermined area.
 3. The information processing device according toclaim 1, wherein the memory is configured to store information regardingroutes between two points for each travel means and sections of theroutes of each travel means where no position information is transmittedas the information regarding the predetermined area.
 4. The informationprocessing device according to claim 1, further comprising: an imagerconfigured to acquire image data to which the current positioninformation is added; wherein, if the controller recognizes, based onthe current position information, that the information processing deviceis in the predetermined area, the controller is configured to controlthe transceiver not to transmit the current position information whichis added to the image data.
 5. The information processing deviceaccording to claim 4, wherein the transceiver is configured to furthertransmit the image data, wherein, if the controller recognizes, based onthe current position information, that the information processing deviceis outside the predetermined area, the controller is configured tocontrol the transceiver to transmit the image data with the currentposition information.
 6. The information processing device according toclaim 4, wherein the transceiver is configured to further transmit theimage data, wherein, if the controller recognizes, based on the currentposition information, that the information processing device is in thepredetermined area, the controller is configured to control thetransceiver not to transmit the image data with the current positioninformation.
 7. A method comprising the steps of: obtaining a currentposition information of an information processing device; storinginformation regarding a predetermined area where no position informationis transmitted; controlling to transmit the current position informationif, based on the current position information, it is determined that theinformation processing device is not in the predetermined area, andcontrolling to not transmit the current position information if, basedon the current position information, it is determined that theinformation processing device is in the predetermined area.
 8. Themethod according to claim 7, further comprising the step of: storinginformation regarding a place where no position information istransmitted as the information regarding the predetermined area.
 9. Themethod according to claim 7, further comprising the step of: storinginformation regarding routes between two points for each travel meansand sections of the routes of each travel means where no positioninformation is transmitted as the information regarding thepredetermined area.
 10. The method according to claim 7, furthercomprising the steps of: acquiring image data to which the currentposition information is added; and controlling to not transmit thecurrent position information which is added to the image data if, basedon the current position information, it is determined that theinformation processing device is in the predetermined area.
 11. Themethod according to claim 10, further comprising the step of:controlling to transmit the current position information with the imagedata if, based on the current position information, it is determinedthat the information processing device is not in the predetermined area.12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of:controlling to not transmit the image data with the current positioninformation if, based on the current position information, it isdetermined that the information processing device is in thepredetermined area.